Thursday, June 9, 2011

Figurative Man - Proposal for Changchun Ceramics Symposium 2011

Proposal 2

My second proposal is to explore the development of my figurative sculptures, samples of which you can see in the photos below. These figures are borne from years of accumulated experiences which have until recently only existed in my sketch books. They reflect my roots in Aotearoa New Zealand and my affiliation with the natural world - and they study the way the figure fits into natural space.

ABOUT SAM'S HINAKI SCULPTURE

The Hinaki sculpture represents the traditional stories, passed down from generation to generation, of the New Zealand native eel. The form of this eel sculpture is based on the shape of Maori traditional eel nets which are called 'hinaki'.

This work is a homage to the ecology of the rivers and waters of our world which are under constant threat from urban development and human pollution. The natural world of our land and our rivers are of huge cultural and historical significance to the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. Eels are inconic creatures that have been woven into countless stories over the centuries, stories told by both young and old alike. The hope is that this sculpture will visually communicate those stories in a way that increases understanding of NZ culture and inspires people across cultures to work together to protect and preserve our natural world.